New ways to find out about The National Forest

Residents in The National Forest and visitors passing through can find out more on the local area through two new roadside information stops. The new panels created on the A511 and A447 as part of the East Midlands Tourism funded Visitor Infrastructure Project, show what there is to do across the 200 square mile Forest, and make the connections between one part of the Forest and another.

The panel on the A447 is sited beside St Denys Church and has been adapted to include a noticeboard for the church. This will provide villagers with information on local events as well as the times of the church services.

Reverend Richard White from St Denys Church said: “We are delighted with the new information point here. Our old notice board was really quite dilapidated, so the new one attached to the information panel will provide the village with a place to find out what is happening at the church and in the village, as well as the times of the services that we hold. It will also help people to understand more about The National Forest. I was surprised at how vast the Forest is and the wealth of things to do and see here.”

The second panel is located on the westbound side of the A511 just outside Coalville. Other sites that feature new facilities as part of the wider Visitor Infrastructure Project include Conkers, Twycross Zoo, Ashby Tourist Information Centre, Ferrers Centre for Arts and Crafts, Snibston Discovery Museum, Sence Valley Forest Park and Rosliston Forestry Centre.

Further information points, which range from the shelters, panels and benches, to listening posts and touchscreen kiosks, will also be installed at Donington and Leicester Forest East service areas, Beacon Hill Country Park, Foremark, Staunton Harold and Thornton Reservoirs and the new National Forest Youth Hostel.

Sophie Churchill, Chief Executive of the National Forest Company said: “One of the beauties but also one of the challenges The National Forest faces is the fact that it spans a wide variety of landscapes including ancient Forest and new woodlands, wide river valleys and urban areas, rolling farmland and craggy outcrops with stunning views.

“These new information points will give visitors a sense of place to the whole destination, help to promote the wider area and link attractions within the Forest.”

The work across all venues is due to be completed by March 2008. In the meantime, visitors can find more information on the huge choice of things to do and see in the Forest or places to stay for a brilliant weekend break by logging onto the website Nationalforest.org.